The US Open is for real and anyone who maintains it isn't needs to receive a good first serve themselves. No, the crowds aren't there and, yes, that means a distinct lack of real stadium atmosphere but for anyone not wielding a racquet in NY to even attempt to insinuate the event is now somehow devalued in terms of relevance and importance is utter nonsense.

I've read lots of supposed expert opinion about this during the week and am prepared to eliminate those arguments quicker than Novak would with a first round qualifier. Go ask Andy Murray how tough the tournament is, after he saved third set match  points to eventually win an epic opener against Japanese up and comer Yoshihito Nishioka.

Yes I'll admit it's a bizarre event to watch. But tell me what sport without crowds isn't? This weekend we'll watch what should've been a rambunctious North/South rugby occasion accompanied by the sound  of stadium silence. Does the lack of paying spectators mean Bayern Munich have an asterisk beside their recent Champions League win? Of course not. Will whoever that wins the NBA think of this year's triumph as somehow less of an achievement because it's been played inside the Florida bubble? Good luck getting that one past Le Bron and his Lakers.

My point being that ALL this sport, despite being weird for us to watch, is as real and competitive for the players as it always has been. Those that win still grin. Those that lose won't be going home thinking their grand slam final loss doesn't feel nearly as bad as the last one because of this infernal Covid virus.

The players have to put all the peripheral distractions to one side and compete as per normal. And don't forget that for most of these athletes at most tournaments they play there is no crowds watching. Practice courts, outside courts, first and second round matches mostly get seen by the two people wielding racquets, the chair umpire and no-one else.

So the challenge for us as fans is either get used to it or get something else to watch because the argument is as redundant as a wooden frame racquet.